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Sixty thousand join The Wave to call for climate justice
5 year-old Jack Farrar toddled for I Count in 2006 and marched on 5 December.
Saturday 5 December 2009 saw thousands of passionate climate campaigners taking to the streets of London, Glasgow and Belfast calling for climate justice.
On the eve of crucial UN talks on climate change in Copenhagen, RSPB supporters turned out in their thousands, including five-year-old Jack Farrar.
Jack toddled for climate justice back in 2006 and was back on the streets with his mum, dad and big brother Sam calling for a safer future for people and wildlife affected by climate change around the world.
Event organisers estimated that almost 60,000 people came together to demand action on climate change. Jack and his family marched alongside representatives from a wealth of union, faith, development and environment groups.
Rallying the troops
Ruth Davis, RSPB’s Head of Climate Change, fired up the gathering crowds with a passionate call for action. She said UK leaders must hear marchers’ concerns and press for all EU countries to make more ambitious cuts in greenhouse gas emissions in the short-term, as part of a binding global agreement.
Samba bands, brass bands, and teams of drummers all contributed to the rising tide of excitement at the march headed off towards Westminster. A trio of huge blue inflated spheres, boasting the RSPB’s avocet logo bobbed and weaved above the procession, all highly visible during the evening’s news bulletins.
After the march there was a very successful 'town hall' style meeting in Methodist Central Hall, chaired by RSPB’s Chief Executive Graham Wynne, where Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, was asked questions by around 100 people. RSPB representatives also went to Number 10 to share their concerns with Gordon Brown. They asked the UK Government to urge the EU as a whole to cut its emissions by 40 percent by 2020, and commit new money to help poorer countries adapt to climate change (at the global talks, the UK doesn’t negotiate alone but as part of a single European Union bloc).
North of the border...
Meanwhile in Glasgow, a drizzly morning in Glasgow’s Bellahouston Park did nothing to dampen enthusiasm as 8,000 people gathered to take part.
RSPB members, volunteers and staff joined Ian Darling, Chairman of the RSPB Council, and Stuart Housden, Director of RSPB Scotland, in representing the charity on the march, all with placards, flags and whistles.
As the march set off, the mood was electric, with banners stretching as far as the eye could see along Glasgow's Paisley Road West. Several Samba bands and a traditional Scottish pipe band provided music and entertainment as the procession snaked down through Ibrox and along onto the famous Squinty Bridge over the Clyde.
People of all ages and social backgrounds, some in fancy dress others on stilts were there resulting in a relaxed, almost carnival atmosphere.
In Kelingrove Park at journey’s end, participants gathered to listen to speeches. Whilst at the RSPB marquee, staff talked to people about Hunterston, the only new coal-fired power station currently proposed in Scotland. Almost 200 people signed up to our campaign against Hunterston, which was a great way to end an inspiring day.
They were there!
Read exclusive accounts of what happened from the people that were there.
Check out our blogs from Jack's Dad, Andre, our conservation director Mark Avery, our campaigns manager Mairi Dupar, Brian Shreeve and Tim Webb from our London Office.
Paula Baker reports from the Glasgow Wave.
Click on the link to the right to visit the SCC website for more news, pictures and videos from the day
Last modified: 07 December 2009